page_title: Sibal (car)
hierarchical_section_title: Sibal (car)
caption_attribution_description: The humble beginnings of South Korea's automotive industry are showcased here. Three brothers, in 1955, decided to build automobiles, founding Gukje Motors. They used the plentiful leftover American Jeep chassis from the war, equipped them with 2.2-liter imitation American engines and rebuilt 3-speed American transmissions, and added a hand-built body. The result was the Shibal (beginning#. Initial sales were slow, but after receiving an industrial award from President Syngman Rhee, sales took off. Sales remained strong until 1962, when the Saenara #a licensed copy of Datsun Bluebird) went into production; Gukje Motors folded in 1964 without ever building a successor model. Thirsty and expensive, but rugged and well-suited to the primitive South Korean roads of the day, the Shibal often served as a taxicab. So much so, that most people who do remember the Shibal usually refer to it as the Shibal Taxi. Although over 3,000 were built, no Shibal are in existence today. This is a replica, representing the first Shibal built, built by Samsung Transportation Museum based on original engineering blueprints and authentic hand-crafting techniques.
context_page_description: Sibal was a South Korean car brand. It was the first car produced in South Korea, from May 1955 to August 1963. The word Sibal means 'inception' or 'beginning'.
  The first Sibal was hand-built by brothers Choi Mu-seong, Choi Hae-seong and Choi Soon-seong, based on the famous Willys Jeep. Initial demands for Sibal were low. However, after winning a presidential award, production began to flourish.
context_section_description: Sibal (Korean: 시발; Hanja: 始發, IPA: [ɕiːbal]) was a South Korean car brand. It was the first car produced in South Korea, from May 1955 to August 1963. The word Sibal means 'inception' or 'beginning'.
  The first Sibal was hand-built by brothers Choi Mu-seong, Choi Hae-seong and Choi Soon-seong, based on the famous Willys Jeep. Initial demands for Sibal were low. However, after winning a presidential award, production began to flourish.
caption: A replica Sibal constructed by the Samsung Transportation Museum from the original blueprints.
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